During the 2020 NBA playoffs, the participating teams were required to check into a hotel, in which they were isolated from the outside world.
I distinctly remember a reporter going around asking the basketball players some questions on their overall experience being separated from their family, friends, and training facilities.
Most players were doing alright, but Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James, was not feeling it.
In fact, he found it to be one of the more difficult experiences he has had to encounter in his career.
Think about it, you can’t do any of the normal routine things you normally do. You have been ripped out of your element and put into an artificial environment.
However, the show must still go on, and the job still has to get done.
If you are a basketball fan, you know that LeBron James went on to win the championship that year.
But, back to that reporter who was asking questions…
She asked LeBron James one question that stood out— “how are you getting through these uncomfortable moments?”
Lebron responded—”Routine.”
Routine is something that if you don’t practice consciously, you go through life un-aware of the positive impact it can have on you.
Routine, if created and practiced consistently, becomes an anchor for your spirit. This opens doors for you to keep pressing forward during your most difficult times.
LeBron James is arguably the greatest player to ever play the game of basketball. If routine can become such a powerhouse for him, why can’t it for you?
Here Are 8 Practices That Can Give You A More Focused And Structured Daily Routine:
16:8 Intermittent Fasting
If you have never heard of or tried intermittent fasting, I highly encourage you to go do some research on it and all of the health benefits that can be attached to it.
Fasting is something you want to consult with your doctor before you just pick up the habit and running with it.
Assuming you are in good strong health and you want to improve your own personal growth, fasting is a great place to start.
Not only are there tons of health benefits associated with intermittent fasting, but it can also be a great tool to sharpen the mind and re-gain clarity.
If practiced consistently, you will clearly begin to feel the increase of energy that would normally be used to breakdown food in your stomach, now being used to fuel the brain and muscles.
7,500-10,000 steps
The human body is designed to move on a daily basis. It is a high quality machine that needs to be worked daily.
We overlook the power of hitting our daily move goals and the impact it has over the quality of our lives.
Our ancestors did not have the mobile vehicles nor the technology that we have available today. They had no choice but to walk miles and miles each day in search of food and proper shelter.
The point is, we were designed to move on a daily basis.
Today, people have become more comfortable in their daily lives than ever before. This comfort that we live in is detrimental to our overall growth.
Learn to see each day as an opportunity to wake up and put your body in an uncomfortable state.
Go for a long walk, a long bike ride, a long lifting session, a long swim—anything that requires movement.
Cook Your Own Meals
Learning to eat at home is a valuable habit to build.
The problem is that there are so many options of fast-food available to us, that we resort to comfort and convenience far too often.
Not only does eating at home create a healthier version of yourself, but it can also help you on the financial side by saving money.
As a species of animals we are natural-born hunters and gatherers. Part of our biological make up is designed to go after our food and prepare it ourselves.
Having someone else hunt, prepare and serve you your food is working against our innate natural instincts.
It’s great to enjoy that service from time-to-time, but you should always revert back to selecting, preparing and cooking your own meals.
Take time to go to the grocery store, select your own food, and ultimately cook it for yourself.
This repetition and habitual work will transform the way you think, feel, and perform.
Spend 1-2 Hours A Day Working On Your Goals
When I worked retail, I didn’t have enough energy to do much after work. I spent years living life this way and nobody ever stopped to tell me this was a problem.
We believe that because we have a job, we can come home and just kick back. But this could not be further from the truth.
We should be working our jobs and then we should be spending between one and two hours each day working on our personal goals.
Maybe, you are asking yourself—”Well, what goals should I be setting for myself?”
Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Exercise and Nutrition: if you feel that you could improve your health I would begin here (this is a full-time job that never ends)
- Starting a Side business: often times using the skills that you pick up at your day job is a great place to start when considering a side business
- Working on picking up a new skill/trade
- Starting a blog or a Youtube channel to share new knowledge you gain over time
- Martial Arts
These are just a few ideas that can help you get started on increasing your productivity and building your future.
7-9 Hours Of Sleep
Sleep is crucial for proper daily performance. I cannot stress this enough.
If you are currently all over the place with your sleep schedule and thinking that you are just fine continuing this vicious cycle, I am here to tell you that you should reconsider.
We already have jam packed days with responsibility that is enough to keep you up for days. We don’t need to add to the stress of every day life by skimping on our sleep.
Fix your sleep, fix your life.
Aim to build a consistent night-time routine that will help you go to bed each night at a consistent hour and help you rise at a consistent hour.
Proper sleep will ensure that your brain is being cleaned properly. Yes, you read that correctly—cleaned.
According to Harvard Health, toxins are flushed out of the brain through a “waste management system” called glymphatic system.
This waste that is being processed is vital for our overall mental health and it can only be achieved during sleep.
In addition to proper brain function, sleep is a recovery process that is going to help you recover properly and create the stronger version of you that is required to take on life’s challenges.
If you find yourself struggling to take on the day, and all of the challenges that may come with it—audit your sleep schedule.
20-30 Pages Of Reading Daily
Reading a few pages of good literature each day is a great way to keep the mind engaged and focused.
It is something that not too many people engage in consistently throughout their daily routine.
We have resorted to audio books and reading blogs and articles online, which is great, but incorporating physical books into your reading program each day can be even better.
Reading is a great way to quiet the mind and bring it to a place that you decide based off of the books that you choose to read.
Find some quiet time to fill your mind with positive information and words that are going to help you move forward in the direction of your goals and dreams.
2-3 Liters Of Water Each Day
When I was working as a manager at an Amazon warehouse, they had charts displayed throughout the bathrooms of different shades of what your urine could look like and what it should look like.
Yes, I too found it strange at first.
So I went ahead and spoke to some other managers and tried to find some answers as to why.
Turns out that they wanted everyone to hold themselves accountable when it comes to staying properly hydrated.
Working all shift, you may not feel the dehydration due to the work-setting.
This took me to a point of hyper-awareness when it came to my water intake. I found that when I was slacking on my water intake, I would feel mentally off-balance throughout my day. Conversely, on days where I monitored my water intake and ensured 2-3 liters of water each day, I felt mentally sharper and in a better mood.
Take some time to search for a water bottle that you can take with you to work each day and keep your water intake at the top of your priority list.
Ensuring you consume sufficient water each day is a must in any daily routine.
